Denzel Curry is a rapper from Miami. He started his career at age 16 as part of the hip hop collective Raider Klan. He released his first solo album while still in high school. In May 2019 Denzel released his fourth album, ZUU. He made it with the Australian production duo FnZ, who have been collaborating with him since 2016. The album was named “Best New Music” by Pitchfork, and Denzel made his TV debut on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In this episode, Denzel Curry and FnZ break down the song “RICKY,” which was named after Denzel’s father. You can buy or stream “RICKY” here. For a transcript of this episode, click here. Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

footnotes “Twisted Blood” – Lukid “Boyz-N-The-Hood” – Eazy-E “Been Around the World” freestyle – DJ Screw Wu-Tang Clan “Break Da Law ’95′” – Three 6 Mafia Dipset  

Jamila Woods is a singer, songwriter, and poet from Chicago. She’s released two albums, and she’s collaborated with artists like Chance the Rapper, Noname, and Macklemore. In May 2019, she put out her second album, LEGACY! LEGACY!, to critical acclaim. NME called it one of the albums of the year, Rolling Stone called it a “revelation,” and Pitchfork named it “Best New Music.” In this episode, Jamila and her producer Slot-A break down a song from that album, called “Baldwin,” named after the late author and civil rights activist James Baldwin. You can buy or stream “BALDWIN” here. Check out the album LEGACY! LEGACY! on vinyl here. For a transcript of this episode, click here. Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

footnotes “A Letter To My Nephew” by James Baldwin Young Chicago Authors “I’m So Into You” – SWV Rhodes piano Akai MPC Moog synthesizer Chicago Children’s Choir Nico Segal – horns

Big Thief is a four piece folk-rock band from Brooklyn, New York. In May 2019, they released their third album, U.F.O.F., to critical acclaim. Pitchfork named it “Best New Music.” In this episode, singer Adrianne Lenker and drummer James Krivchenia break down a song from that album called “Cattails.” You can buy or stream “Cattails” here. Check out the album U.F.O.F. on vinyl here. For a transcript of this episode, click here. Illustration by Carlos Lerma.

footnotes Bear Creek studio Dom Monks – Engineer Andrew Sarlo – Producer